Argentina kick off their title defence against Algeria in Group J at 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Argentina enter the tournament as reigning champions, whilst Algeria are back at the World Cup after a 12-year absence.
Team News
Nicolas Tagliafico is a doubt for Argentina due to a recent muscle injury, although he has returned to training.
Emiliano Martinez (finger), Cristian Romero, Nico Paz (both knee), Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel (both muscle), Leandro Paredes (fitness), Julian Alvarez (ankle) and Lionel Messi (hamstring) are all fully fit for selection.
Algeria have no fresh injury concerns to report.
When is Kick-Off?
Argentina face Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium, Kanas, USA, on Tuesday 16 June at 8pm CDT (2am BST, Wednesday 17 June), live on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Argentina’s first World Cup meeting against Algeria.
- Algeria lost their only previous meeting against Argentina by a 4-3 result in an international friendly in June 2007.
- Messi has scored in each of his last two appearances for Argentina (W2).
- Algeria have kept clean sheets in their last four matches (W3, D1), during which Hadji Moussa scored in their last two matches in a 1-0 victory over Netherlands then 4-0 against Bolivia.
Prediction
As reigning champions and in a comfortable group, Argentina have to be favourites to get out of Group J as the group winners such is their form and attacking quality, so this feels like theirs to lose on paper.
Algeria however are also in decent form and have players like Houssem Aouar and Riyad Mahrez who can pose some issues for Argentina, but their goalkeeping unit is their vulnerability with just 12 caps between them so they will need a big defensive performance to help whoever is in goal out.
I however do think that Argentina will have too much quality for Algeria’s back line to handle, but expect a strong fight from the Desert Warriors.
Prediction: Argentina 2-1 Algeria